By Julia Rose
jrose@Marian.org
As the sun (and a little bit of rain) graced Eden Hill this week, I couldn’t help but feel extra grateful. It’s officially one year since I joined the workers at the Marian Helpers Center, and 42 weeks since this weekly round-up began!
Thank you to our leader here at the Marian Helpers Center, Fr. Mark Baron, MIC, all of my co-workers, and of course everyone who has graciously shared their testimonies and love for the Shrine with me and our online audience — it really creates a deeper appreciation for the work God is doing on Eden Hill through the Marian Fathers, Marian Helpers, volunteers, and pilgrims!
One of the cool perks of working here is the chance to volunteer — as I did during the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage last month, carrying the banner with Shrine Visitor Guide Amanda Parramore (left) for the First Station, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
Speaking of volunteering, we're still in need of volunteers for Encuentro Latino, our annual Latino pilgrim celebration, on Saturday, Aug. 1. Please join us! Details here.
Tomorrow, join us in-person or online for a new talk by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, at 11 a.m. ET on "Response to Attacks on Divine Mercy, Part 2." Watch on YouTube at Divine Mercy (Official), Facebook at Divine Mercy (Official), and on DivineMercyPlus.org.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
The Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is under way (that's Fr. Tyler Mentzer, MIC, holding her statue!), leading to her feast day next Thursday, July 16.
"Our Blessed Mother, particularly Our Lady of Mount Carmel, speaks to us of the purity of faith," Fr. Tyler explained. "With the Brown Scapular, she was entrusting to the Carmelites in a special way her motherly mantle of protection and blessing so that, as they wore that scapular, it would be a special sign of being clothed with our Blessed Mother: her virtues, her grace, her faith, her charity." By wearing the Brown Scapular, all of us can seek Our Lady's special protection, too.
"It's important to recall that when we wear the scapular in faith, we are putting on Our Lady’s grace and her virtue to live as children, sons, and daughters of Our Blessed Mother, and the way that Mary follows Christ in that perfect way," he continued. "We are also allowing ourselves to have that disposition of her Immaculate Heart to follow Christ and put Him at the center of our lives.” Beautifully said!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
There's still time to enroll your intentions and loved ones in the Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Details here.
Please join us for the feast next Thursday, which will include investiture in the Brown Scapular at the 2 p.m. Mass. Details here.
Manhattan meets Stockbridge
Recently, the Shrine welcomed a group of 50 pilgrims from St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, organized by Colin Nykaza, St. Patrick's director of evangelization, social outreach, and young adult ministry. Father Chris Alar, MIC, was there to greet the group. He is a familiar face at the cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, having spoken there on several occasions.
“I have a huge devotion to Divine Mercy, and Fr. Chris has been very generous about coming to the cathedral for talks. And so this first pilgrim trip was a no-brainer,” Colin said. “It turned into an awesome experience.”
Ranging in age from early 20s to 70s, many of the pilgrims were familiar with the message of Divine Mercy. In fact, Colin gives talks about Divine Mercy and mental health around the country.
“Mercy literally means to give one's heart to one who is in misery," he explained. "Everyone's going through something right now, no matter what stage of life they're in. So I'm trying to help cater that reality to them, being like, ‘The more you're hurting, the more you have the right to God’s mercy.'" Amen!
Learn more about St. Patrick's Cathedral here. And here's Fr. Chris' recent talk there on "Divine Mercy Promises":
Welcome, first-timers!
One pilgrim family made an even longer trip to the Shrine than the Manhattan group. Above, Juan and Ana from Clifton, New Jersey, journeyed three hours with their 7-year-old son, Federico, for their first visit upon the recommendation of a priest friend. "This is a very peaceful place," Juan said, and they promise to return.
More first timers: Nicole and Greg from the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption in Lancaster, Ohio, visited with their 14-year-old daughter, Samantha, and her best friend, Maggie. They stopped by on their way back from Niagara Falls!
"We just love Divine Mercy!" Nicole said. Confirmed last year, Samantha chose St. Faustina as her Confirmation saint after learning about the miracles attributed to her intercession.
"We've been devoted listeners of Fr. Chris Alar's Saturday 'Explaining the Faith' talks as well as the monthly First Friday and Saturday devotions for the past five years," Nicole added. "We're all cradle Catholics, but we've learned more from Fr. Chris than we've learned in our entire life.”
Nicole purchased the "Explaining the Faith" slap bracelet for everyone, and now they literally wear Fr. Chris on their wrists! Here's how to get yours.
“I like seeing the younger people become on fire for the faith,” Nicole concluded. “Our parishes are just growing with young families, young people.” How fantastic!
Rest in peace, Fr. Richard Drabik, MIC
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Richard Drabik, MIC, who died on the Fourth of July following a long illness. The former Provincial Superior and author of the preface to the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska was 92, and served as a Marian priest for 52 years.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.{shopmercy-ad}
